I have a line on a NOS tonneau cover for 4th gens, but something about drilling holes in the body for snaps doesn't feel right. Once I do, there is no turning back.

What would you do?

Dont do it! Being in the canvas/upholstery business and drilling many a hole in pick ups and elcaminos, I only can guarentee you will create rust and one day you will try to cover them up ,after the cover has rotted , and they will rust again. The only way to cover the holes is to weld them shut. If the car never gets wet you might reduce the chance of rusting. Look into a hard cover. Dont cover those beds , repair them and paint them! Clean painted beds really look nice!My 70 has 2 sets of holes around the top of the quarter panel and it drives me nuts , I believe replacing the quarter panel will be easier and cheaper than welding all those holes! If I could only find the full quarters, they only make partials. Do the right thing.

If I could only find the full quarters, they only make partials. It's kinda up to you, a soft tonneau cover can look nice if installed right...but I wouldn't do it to mine because of the very reasons you stated...I would consider the hard cover though. As far as quarter panels for a 3rd gen goes, OPGI lists full quarters parts# 1667160 and 1667161 www.opgi.com

mine was drilled in the bed trim when i got it.

Guess I'm the quasi-dissenter. :? Couldn't bring myself to drill all those holes for a soft cover, yet I was able to justify drilling for a hard cover, which I am doing now. I like the look of a properly installed soft cover, but for me, it has to be able to permanently withstand snow and ice loads to justify all the holes. I consider exterior vinyl to be temporary.

I forced myself to be patient for a nice hard cover and got one in like-new condition for about $300 on eBay.

Sorry I don't fit neatly into your poll question.

Take care.

Okay, you guys convinced me to let it go. It only went for $46.25 on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8073111080

It seemed like a pretty good price, which is the only reason I was entertaining the idea.

Mine snaps are in the trim around the bed also.

go for a hard top!!!

It wan't a matter of hard or soft.

I saw a cheap cover. I don't like hard tops because you can't haul anything taller than 12" or so. A regular cooler is taller than that!

You're an engineer, right? The perfect solution - get a hard cover and cut a hole in it. :lol:

Have a great weekend.

Take care.

8) Could just add a hardtop and a refrigeration unit and turn the whole bed into a cooler, AND WHAT A COOLER!!! :lol: I like the look of the soft covers too! The guy here in town that installs them even said unless you can use a rail mount not to do it! Said would just be sorry in the end. 8)